Martoons

Today: Mr Go acts strangely and they finally leave the airport.

Cast of characters

Fred

Miss No

Mr Go

*

Fred was dying to take a leak. “Miss No, do I have time to … wash my hands?”

She nodded.

He darted back inside the terminal and headed for the men’s room.

He’d seen it earlier down at the end of the building.

About half way there he happened to spot Go buying something at a convenience kiosk.

On Fred’s way back a minute later, he spotted Go facing away from the kiosk, and his posture was rigid.

* What’s up with Mr Go? *

He was very mechanically drinking something out of a clear bottle – mineral water or something?

He was also looking … no staring, mesmerized, at a bright neon advertising sign on a close-by wall.

Fred glanced up at the ad and had to squint because it was so bright.

He was about to approach Go but then put on the brakes, sensing that he shouldn’t disturb the man.

He didn’t know why exactly; it was just a hunch he got.

Instead he quickly walked by and back out the exit door to give Miss No an update.

“Fred, get in the car please,” No said. “We won’t get a ticket if you are inside. I will go get Mr Go.”

Moments later the two appeared, with No seemingly coaching Go back to the car as if she were an army sergeant.

Fred chuckled mildly but more from discomfort than anything – the scene struck him as odd.

Go was almost marching.

Within moments, they were in the vehicle with Go at the helm and No issuing strict instructions as to how to drive.

Go seemed to be having some kind of spell as he put the car in drive and they cruised off the airport property onto the highway.

“Is Mr Go okay to drive?” Fred wondered.

No smiled and waved him off. “Yes, yes, no problem. He is best driver.”

Within a short span of time Go wiped some sweat off his face and seemed to become himself again.

At that point, he and No started arguing about a few things, so Fred – in the back seat – just looked out and enjoyed the scenery.

“Sorry we were late today,” No finally said, turning her head back.

“Today there is a big traffic jam. It is a national holiday. On holidays, many Koreans go for a drive to the country. Korean countryside is very beautiful.”

* A postcard scene *

And that it was – a strong, thick pastel blue and green.

Most of the scenery was green rice fields, dotted here and there with a traditional Korean house with its stylish curly-tiled roof.

The bright orange, blue or red roofs made the houses stick out from the rice fields, like lighthouses on a barren shore.

In the background were countless mountains.

Korea!

Fred marveled to himself.

This is how it should look.

Things were off to a good start.

At about the halfway point of the 90-minute drive to Chinju, they pulled into a roadside service centre.

Koreans spend a lot of their leisure time in cars and a whole industry has sprouted to service their needs.

This roadside pit stop was an oasis in the endless expanse of busy highway.

Go parked the car and they disembarked.

He rushed inside leaving No and Fred to gaze at the plaza of food outlets flanked by walls of vending machines.

* Consumerism – Korean style *

“Fred – drinky?” she asked. “Maybe cola?”

Fred was more interested in the dozens of other Korean concoctions.

As he browsed along the vending machine wall, Miss No listed-off the exotic, healthy-sounding drinks like pine needle tea, sweetened rice water, and …

“Ginger ale/milk soda?” he queried.

“Yes,” No replied. “It is very cool and delicious. You want?” and she fished in her purse for a fistful of change.

Fred waved her off this time and chose the pine needle beverage.

“Mr Go is buying cigarettes,” she added. “Then we will drive to your homestay hostess.”

Fred only half heard her, wrapped up in his own thoughts.

As he sat in the back seat sipping his unique-tasting drink and staring at the back of Miss No’s head, here –he thought – is the very woman who’d denied that Thomas even existed when I called her long distance those weeks ago.

And he couldn’t hold it in any longer, but chose his words carefully: “Miss No, what happened to …” He breathed in and braced himself. “…Thomas?”

*

Tomorrow: Fred experiences the rush of Korean driving.